Gary Lineker and other members of the sporting world have sent their well wishes to the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, after she announced that she has been diagnosed with cancer, aged 42.
She revealed the news in a deeply emotional video message filmed at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
The type of cancer has not yet been specified, with the Princess stating that the news had come as a ‘huge shock’.
It comes days after she and Prince William were pictured smiling after they left her favourite farm shop, Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor last Saturday.
‘Awful news. Wishing The Princess of Wales a full recovery,’ Gary Lineker wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Wishing the Princess of Wales and all those suffering from the wretched disease that is Cancer, the very best in their own personal fights and recoveries.
‘In her words “Do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.” @KensingtonRoyal,’ she continued, adding a heart emoji.
During the video, which was filmed by BBC Studios and shared by HuffPost, she said: ‘In January, I underwentmajor abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous.
‘The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.’
‘My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,’ she explained.
‘This, of course, came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.’
She added: ‘As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
‘But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.’
‘As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits.